The Dynamics of Innovation

Abstract

Research always brings to mind the paradigm of an absent-minded scientist playing aimlessly with his pencil (and computer) seeking some universal truth. It is a paradigm that gave us, over the centuries, great progress in science, and it resulted in relative prosperity for mankind. The basis for this paradigm was and still is that the researcher is highly intelligent, self-motivated, and rather undisciplined. Can we go to the next millennium with this paradigm? In a society where everything is measured, quantified, and rationalized, how can researchers continue to live in an idealistic world? We already see the signs of trouble. Research budgets and research institutes are under pressure in both the public and private sectors. This is the time to revise our position, especially in the fast-moving area of information technology.